Yearly Archives: 2011

The UN Conference on Sustainable Development (RIO + 20), will meet from June 20-22, 2012, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The two major themes to be addressed are: the green economy, in the context of poverty eradication and sustainable development; and, an institutional framework for sustainable development. Just recently, however, an important related event took place in Durban, South Africa—the 17th UN Climate Change Conference. While there was extensive media coverage of this meeting in other parts of our world, relatively little information was provided here in the United States.

We are now preparing for our 10th National Dominican “Preaching in Action” Conference for college students. The conference will be held at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois, from Tuesday, May 22 through Sunday, May 27, 2012.

Students from Dominican Colleges or colleges that have a Dominican presence are most welcomed to come and join us for a wonderful week of prayer, study, community and lots of fun.

Once again, members of the Order will introduce young adults to our Dominican charism of preaching the Gospel in a variety of ways. With the assistance of our Dominican liturgists, participants will have opportunities to prepare morning and evening prayer, an important part of this conference experience. The conference also includes a service experience for students. Here students will take what they learned during the week and put it into action. The conference will end with a closing Eucharistic liturgy at which each person will be commissioned in the Dominican tradition.

Registration materials for students and mentors, the newest brochure, as well as a brief overview of the conference, are available online.

If you have any questions about this year’s conference, please don’t hesitate to contact me at domsis@aol.com or 631-842-6000 x308.

Sister Gina Fleming, OP, is director of the National College Preaching Conference and promoter of youth for her congregation, the Dominican Sisters of Amityville, New York.

The Dominican Sisters of Peace have approved a corporate stance on immigration reform that states: “We, Dominican Sisters of Peace, call for comprehensive immigration reform that would provide additional viable legal avenues for immigration, reunite families, legalize undocumented persons, and establish opportunities for permanent residency.” Read more The Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters were among 10 congregations of women religious who issued billboards across Iowa with a Gospel message, along with a statement calling on the president and Congress to make progress on comprehensive immigration reform. Read story in National Catholic Reporter

Brian Pierce, OP and Jim Barnett, OP presented a re-enactment of the Montesinos Homily and provided a commentary. It is now available on DVD. Download order form (PDF)

The DVD of the Nov. 21 webcast, The 500th Anniversary of Dominican Preaching in the Americas is now available from The Center Shop in Sparkill, New York through Sister Ann Eigenbauer, OP. Download order form (PDF)

Opportunity to Schedule Play in the Midwest

The Alma College (Alma, Michigan) Drama Department is willing to perform “The Controversy of Valladolid” at your motherhouse or college during the months of January through March 2012. To schedule this event, contact: Dr. Dana Aspinall: aspinall@alma.edu or call 989-463-7269.

The play takes place after Europeans invaded the land, destroyed the culture, plundered natural resources and subjected thousands of people to servitude, torture and death, the church agonized over its question of the indigenous peoples: Are they human? Are they children of God? Based on a Spanish Papal Tribunal of 1550 this drama reveals the fate of millions of American natives by bringing to light the real-life debates whose outcomes are still felt today.

Webcast

Thank you so much for participating in the Webcast on Nov. 21. We had 400 connections live from as far as Peru and Australia, and within a week there were 2,000 requests to watch it on a later date. We realize that there is great interest and energy among the Dominican Family to hear about our history and current commitments to justice. Your emails and calls have been so encouraging.

After a year-long complex process of discernment, the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine de Ricci have voted to request a merger with the Dominican Sisters of Peace. The action took place during their Extraordinary Chapter, held at their retreat center in Niskayuna, New York, Dec. 13–15. The congregation had been in discernment with the Dominican Sisters of Adrian and the Dominican Sisters of Peace for about two years. Read more